Dalla Corte Mina Espresso Machine, 110V / Black at Whole Latte Love

Dalla Corte Mina Given the investment required to purchase a Mina for my home kitchen, I wanted to reassure myself that I would experience sufficient value to justify the decision. I spent several days reading reviews, watching videos, and speaking to Whole Latte Love staff. It’s been years since I researched a purchase so thoroughly. Even though I still had some reservations, I decided to pull the trigger. My one nagging concern was that I might not be sufficiently expert to be able to unpack all the value engineered into the product. The Mina delivers significant capabilities, primarily in that its flow-control technology makes it possible to achieve levels of nuance in controlling what’s available in flavor and character that defy credibility. Would I be capable of tasting the differences that make a difference? For obvious reasons, that question remains unanswerable. I can testify, however, that I have been astonished at what can be done to conjure up so many flavor profiles from the same blends. Results are nothing short of prismatic in that it is possible to shift experiences and emphases of flavor to a degree that exceeds what seems possible. I love what the Mina accomplishes in terms of rounding and enriching flavor. When I realized that these flavors have always been there, but they have exceeded my grasp (for a host of reasons), it doesn’t seem like a stretch to characterize the Mina as “an Alchemical machine.” I would add, without reserve, that the Mina is also just fun to use. I gathered that I would enjoy experimenting, and I have indeed. I also love the Mina’s steaming capabilities. Frothing milk used to seem a drudgery; it now takes no time at all. Likewise, routine maintenance and cleaning are also simple and efficient with a little practice and study. Others have observed that the Mina’s app is a bit clunky. The app could benefit from polishing its user interface to make it a bit more intuitive. It’s not bad, actually, just a little confusing. More importantly, I think improving the app’s documentation would really improve the user experience. Given Dalla Corte’s access to world-class baristas and to a growing community of owners, I think a “cookbook”-type collection of flow-control profiles paired with roasts and blends would offer users a springboard to fun and expertise. If you do purchase a Mina, be prepared to be patient. It won’t ship the next day, or the day after that, or even the day after that. Every machine is bench-tested and inspected in detail before it ships. The thing comes palleted and crated. All the evidence leads one to believe that Whole Latte Love really cares about delivering equipment the right way, but it is definitely not a typical consumer transaction, unless one is buying very high end, engineered products as a matter of course. I would encourage WLL to let buyers know what to expect when purchasing. What is obvious in the pro coffee world is arcana to less experienced enthusiasts.